A simple ranking of LeBron James' priorities should scare the bejeezus out of Cavaliers fans

Now that LeBron James has delivered on his dream of winning a championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers, attention will turn to his impending free agency. While it may seem far-fetched to think that he would leave the Cavs this offseason, there are some reasons to think that he will leave eventually and that it could happen sooner rather than later.

"There are people in Miami who believe they have a shot at getting LeBron to return to South Beach. And from what I am told, the Los Angeles Lakers believe they have a very, very good chance of getting LeBron James to come out to Los Angeles ... I'm hearing that both of those teams are possibilities. But that would first involve him deciding that he wants to go, that he wants to leave Cleveland."

"When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn't had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what's most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio."

It took only two seasons, but James has already fulfilled his mission for the city he affectionately refers to as "The Land."

Mission accomplished.

So, what's next for King James? A simple ranking of what is important to LeBron and where his loyalties lie should make it fairly obvious that James' future could very easily reside in a different city with a different team.

Here is a look at how LeBron James might rank his priorities and his loyalties:

1. His legacy

This one is simple. He helped the Heat win a couple of titles. It wasn't four, five, six, or seven, but it was two more than they had. He also helped the Cavaliers win their first title, and the city of Cleveland win its first major sports championship of any kind in over 50 years.

The only thing left for LeBron is to add to his own résumé. He is 31 and has three rings, the same number Michael Jordan had at the same age. It is easy to imagine that James has three to four more peak seasons left and maybe another three to four where he may need a little more help.

If he can add two or three more championships and another MVP or two, then James will solidify his spot as one of the two or three greatest players ever. And if James decides that there is a better chance of that happening elsewhere, then he will leave.

2. Nike

After himself, LeBron's next biggest loyalty is clearly to Nike. He recently signed a lifetime deal with the shoe giant that is worth north of $1 billion. Depending on how much longer LeBron plays, he might make one-fourth of that in basketball salaries over the remainder of his career.

Also consider that when James signed with Nike, it was less about endorsing products and more about the merger of two businesses: Nike and LeBron Inc. Rather than use his agent to make this deal with Nike, James brought in his business adviser, Paul Wachter, whose background is in mergers and acquisitions, a source familiar with the negotiations told Business Insider.

In some ways, LeBron just ceased being a basketball player. That side still exists, but it is now just one department in a much bigger corporation. While LeBron still has his basketball legacy to worry about for the time being, his broader legacy, that which will continue long after he stops playing basketball, is directly tied to this relationship with Nike.

And if leaving the Cavs and going to the Lakers is better for that relationship, then James will leave.

You can probably make an argument that his family is the only thing that ranks ahead of Akron in terms of his loyalty. The city is also very high on his list in terms of priorities. That is clear in the way he talks about Akron and in his actions, such as setting up scholarships to help more than 1,000 Akron kids go to college.

But what is important here, in terms of basketball, is that James can remain loyal to Akron even if he leaves the Cavaliers to play elsewhere.

Akron and Cleveland are in northeast Ohio, but the distance between the two cities feels a lot farther than the 40 miles on the map. James may someday leave Cleveland again, but he will never leave Akron.

4. Other business interests

This is like a lighter version of LeBron's relationship with Nike. He has reached the point in his career where his legacy off the court is starting to be as important as the legacy on it.

But again, like Akron, James can remain loyal to his business partners no matter what uniform he decides to wear.

5. The city of Cleveland and Cavs fans

LeBron often affectionately refers to "The Land," and there is a sense of loyalty there. But it has been clear for most of his career that James is more loyal to his hometown of Akron and northeast Ohio in general.

This is not to say that Cavs fans aren't important to LeBron, but it is to say that he gave them a championship and now his priorities may reside elsewhere.

Remember: When LeBron signed with Nike, he made a spontaneous personal video in a shoe closet expressing how excited he was. When he decided to return to the Cavs, he published a carefully crafted letter in Sports Illustrated and made a commercial for, yep, Nike. Signing with Nike was personal. Returning to Cleveland felt more like business and branding.

"I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together," James said. "At least one, maybe one or two seasons - me, Melo, D-Wade, CP - we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that ... It would be pretty cool. I've definitely had thoughts about it."

At this point, there is nothing to say that his dream of forming a super team with his NBA buddies is more of a priority than winning one or two more championships in Cleveland. But it is something that he has thought about and, if the situation presented itself, then he would probably at least think about doing it now.

7. The Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron certainly feels a sense of loyalty to his teammates. He probably also feels some loyalty to fans in Cleveland and to try to win at least one more championship for the city. But it is hard to imagine that James feels any loyalty to the Cavaliers, and that starts with owner, Dan Gilbert.

"The letter from Dan Gilbert, the booing of the Cleveland fans, the jerseys being burned - seeing all that was hard for [my mom and my wife]. My emotions were more mixed. It was easy to say, 'OK, I don't want to deal with these people ever again.' But then you think about the other side. What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left? How would I react? I've met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We've talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I've made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?"

James was willing to toss aside any grudges. But it is important to note that he set them aside for the sake of kids who look up to him, not for the Cavs or Gilbert. And even if there is no grudge, that doesn't mean he has forgotten what happened when he took his talents to South Beach.

James went back to the Cavaliers to accomplish a mission. That goal has now been fulfilled and, thanks to the way he was treated on the first time he walked out the door, all it means is that he is going to feel less guilty the next time he leaves.

It may not happen this summer, but it does feel inevitable. Winning a championship just makes it more likely that LeBron will pack up his talents once again, and that it could be sooner rather than later.

LEBRON THROUGH THE YEARS:

29PHOTOS

LeBron James through the years

See Gallery

LeBron James through the years

File photo of high school basketball star LeBron James getting set for
a foul shot during the annual Jordan Capital Classic high school
all-star game in Washington, April 17, 2003. James will hold a press
conference at his high shool in Akron, Ohio April 25, 2003, where he is
expected to state his intentions concerning the upcoming NBA draft.
James is expected to be the number one pick should he make himself
available for the draft. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn-Files
GMH/HB

Lebron James announces his entrance into the NBA draft, during a press
conference at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, April
25, 2003. The six-foot-eight James, 18, is expected by many to be the
number one selection in the draft on June 26. REUTERS/Jason Cohn
JC/HB

LeBron James (R) shakes hands with National Basketball Association
Commissioner David Stern after being selected by the Cleveland
Cavaliers as the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft at Madison Square
Garden in New York, June 26, 2003. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
PM

Cleveland Cavaliers first draft pick LeBron James speaks with reporters
following a picture session at Gund Arena, in Cleveland, October 2,
2003. REUTERS/Ron Kuntz
RK/ME

Cleveland Cavalier rookie forward LeBron James (23) shoots over New Orleans Hornets defenders Baron Davis (1) and David Wesley (4), in the fourth period of NBA action in Cleveland, Ohio, December 23, 2003. James 22 points was the high scorer for the Cavaliers who defeated the Hornets 97-86. REUTERS/Marc Serota MS

Paul Pierce (R) of the Boston Celtics and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers chat while the scoreboard is fixed during the fourth quarter of their game at Gund Arena, February 9, 2004. The Cavaliers won, 97-89. REUTERS/Ron Kuntz RK

Eastern Conference forward LeBron James holds the Most Valuable Player trophy at the 55th NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas February 19, 2006. The East defeated the Western Conference 122-120. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James questions a call during their NBA playoff game against the Washington Wizards in Washington May 5, 2006 Cleveland defeated Washington, 114-113, to advance in the NBA playoffs. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

Forward LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, works on his jump shot at morning practice during the first day of training camp for the USA men's basketball team in Las Vegas July 19, 2006. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots over New York Knicks forward Quentin Richardson (L) and guard Stephon Marbury (R) in the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game in New York's Madison Square Garden, November 13, 2006. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James is seen on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, California, February 15, 2007. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James goes through his pregame powder ritual prior to the start of Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first round NBA playoff basketball game in Cleveland, Ohio April 25, 2007. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James answers media questions before practice for their NBA Finals basketball series against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Texas, June 8, 2007. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (L) celebrates after dunking against the New Orleans Hornets David West during the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Louisiana February 17, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (L) is guarded by Chicago Bulls Thabo Sefolosha (R) during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Cleveland, April 3, 2008. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James drives to the basket during the third quarter of their NBA basketball game in Cleveland January 9, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James sits with his girlfriend Savana Brinson and son Bryce Maximus during the Rookie Challenge at the NBA All-Star basketball weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, February 13, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES)

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James speaks after being named the NBA Most Valuable Player during a ceremony at his alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio May 4, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Miami Heat's LeBron James celebrates after Mario Chalmers scored a three pointer against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, December 25, 2010. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Miami Heat's LeBron James (R) stands with Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade during Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series in Dallas, June 9, 2011. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Miami Heat's LeBron James watches a shot against the Dallas Mavericks through the net during the second half in Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series in Miami, June 2, 2011. REUTERS/David J. Phillip/Pool (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Miami Heat's LeBron James dunks against the Washington Wizards in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Miami, Florida December 15, 2012. REUTERS/Andrew Innerarity (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Miami Heat's LeBron James speaks at a press conference after his team defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of their NBA Finals basketball playoff in Miami, Florida June 20, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James wears an " I Can't Breathe" t-shirt during warm ups prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn, New York, December 8, 2014. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

June 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James speaks to media following the 104-91 loss against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 21: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers pauses on the court during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Quicken Loans Arena on January 21, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Spurs defeated the Cavaliers 118-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)